Tank cap lock



NOV. 1, 1932. A ls 1,886,013

TANK CAP LOCK Filed Dec. 11, 1951 CZTHarrzZgmmR ATTO R N EY Patented Nov. 1, 1932 UNITED STATE rarest erricsi CHARLES E. HARRIS, OF MONTPELIER, IDAI-IG TANK oar" LOCK Application filed December 11, 1931. Serial No. 580,460.

This invention relates to tank caps and its general object is to provide a cap primarily designed for fuel tanks of motor vehicles, and the cap is provided with key actuated locking 5 means to protect the contents of a tank from unauthorized persons.

A further object of the invention is to provide a key actuated lock cap for fuel tanks, that can be associated with fuel tanks now in commercial use with motor vehicles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tank cap of the character set forth, that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and extremely eificient in operation and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through the cap which forms the subject matter of the present invention and showing the same applied to the filling spout of a fuel tank.

Figure 2 is a similar view, taken at right angles with respect to Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 4-4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

" Figure 5 is a. perspective view of the looking bolt means.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the letter A indicates a fuel tank for a motor vehicle or the like, and B the filling spout there for. The filling spout is of the usual construction and is provided with an inwardly and downturned flange having opposed slots C arranged therein for a purpose which will be presently apparent.

' The cap includes a top lhaving formed with lng wherein like characters denote like or the outer edges thereof a flange 2 and the flange is inwardly directed adjacent its connection with the top to provide a channel to receive the usual gasket 3.

The top has arranged centrally therein an 55 opening for the passage of the cylinder 4 of a key actuated lock which be of any well known construction. Secured to'the top by r vets 5 isa collar 6 of a sleeve 7 which has mounted for rotation therein the cylinder 50 of the lock. The sleeveisprcvided with flat I opposedsurfaces 8 which have mounted for slidable movement thereon a frame 9 which is reciprocated by a disk 10 eccentrically secured to a boss 11, the latter being formed a with the bottom of the cylinder and has e-X- tending therefrom a threadedstud for the purpose of accommodating a nut 12 which bears against a relative large washer 13 for holding the parts in position.

Formed with one of the end walls of the frame 9 at its upper end is a lug 14 which is adapted to be positionedwithin one of the slots of the flange of the filling spout as shown in Figure 2 and in a manner which 7 will be presently described.

Arranged between the collar 6 and the top and secured to the underside of thetop by the rivets 5 is a plate lathat has formed with its ends spring fingers 16 which are 1;, adapted to be passed through the slots of the flange of the filling spout when the cap is disposed on the filling spout,and by giving the cap a quarter turn, the spring fingers will engage with the bottom of the flange to fas 5 ten the cap on the filling spout. This movement of the cap will likewise dispose the lug 14 in alignment with one of the slots, and the key-not shown is thenpositioned in the lock for'turning the cylinder. Such turning will on likewise turn the eccentrically mounted disl 10 against tongues 17 formed with the frame 9 and cause the frame to be moved for placing the lug 14 wi hin the adjacent slot of the flange of the filling spout. The key is then 05 removed and it will be apparent that the cap cannot be removed until the lug 14 is arranged out of the slot as when the lug is in the slot rotation of the cap is prevented.

It is thought from the foregoing descrip- 10 tion that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make chan in the construction and in the combinatlon and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1, A lock cap for a fuel tank comprising 10 a top, a cyiinder lock having a cylinder arranged through an opening formed in said top, a sleeve surrounding the cylinder and having connection with said top, a frame mounted for reciprocation on said sleeve,

15 means for reciprocating said frame from said cylinder, and a lug carried by said frame and being adapted to be received in a slot arranged in the filling spout of the fuel tank to prevent movement of said cap on said fill- 96 bags ant.

2. lock cap for a fuel tank comprising a top having an opening centrally arranged therein, a key actuated lock including a cylinder arranged in said opening, a sleeve sur- II rounding the cylinder and secured to said top, said sleeve having opposed fiat surfaces, a frame mounted for reciprocation on the opposed fiat surfaces, a disk eccentrically mounted and having connection with the U cylinder means formed with said frame and arranged in the path of the disk whereby upon rotation of the latter the frame is reciprocated, and a lug formed with said frame and movable into a slot arranged in the filling spent to prevent the removal of said cap from said filling spout.

8. The combination with the filling spout of a fuel tank, said filling spout including an inwardly directed downturned flange havingv opposed slots arranged therein, of a cap including a top, a plate secured to the undersideof said top, sprin fingers formed with Bard plate and arrange for passage through saidislots whereupon rotation of the cap a the.spring fingers engage the underside of the flange, a key actuated lock carried by said top, means mounted for reciprocation and having connection with said lock for movement upon actuation of the latter, and means 59 formed with the reciprocating means and movable into and out of one of the slots for locking and unlocking the cap with respect to the filling spout.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES HARRIS. 

